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Fox News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Activist sportswear brand sues Colorado, accuses state of censoring its message
Print Close By Jackson Thompson Published May 27, 2025 EXCLUSIVE: The women's activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics is suing the state of Colorado over a recent state law that the company claims would interfere with its ability to market its message. The lawsuit takes aim at the state for passing a law called HB25-1312 and amending the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, which defines "gender expression" to include "chosen name" and "how an individual chooses to be addressed." The laws state Coloradans have a right to access "public accommodations and advertising" that are free of discrimination on that basis. The company's lawsuit claims that the state's new legislation would make it illegal for the brand to carry out certain viral marketing campaign techniques it has used since launching last year. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON "XX-XY Athletics, in their advertising, customer interactions, and elsewhere, to refer to transgender-identifying individuals with their given names or with biologically accurate language. XX-XY Athletics can no longer speak the truth in pursuit of its mission. XX-XY Athletics can no longer call men, men," the lawsuit states. "Even worse, the Act coerces the company to speak against its principles and alter the meaning of its core message. If XX-XY Athletics refuses, the company faces cease-and-desist orders, expensive investigations, hearings, and civil and criminal penalties." Colorado Attorney General Philip J. Weiser's office has declined to comment on the lawsuit to Fox News Digital. XX-XY founder Jennifer Sey provided a statement to Fox News Digital insisting that the law would hinder her company's marketing strategies and the overall movement to oppose trans athletes in girls and women's sports. "What is happening in Colorado is a threat to anyone who speaks the truth about biological reality and who stands up for the rights of women and girls. XX-XY Athletics communicates often and broadly on the reality that men and women are different and our mission as a brand is to empower female athletes to also speak up and protect women's sports," Sey wrote. "Laws like this in Colorado force Coloradans to adhere to an ideology that is in violation of actual truth. They want to silence anyone who disagrees. We are filing this lawsuit to fight for our — and every Coloradan's - right to free speech." COLORADO SCHOOL DISTRICT SUING STATE OVER POLICY THAT ALLOWS TRANS ATHLETES IN GIRLS SPORTS Sey's brand has regularly used its social media platforms to bring attention to instances of biological males competing in girls and women's sports around the country, while promoting XX-XY merchandise. The company also produces original commercials that feature its brand ambassadors, and some of those include references to trans athletes being "men" or "boys." Colorado is already facing a lawsuit from one of its own school districts over the state's laws requiring schools to allow biologically male transgender athletes to compete in girls sports. School District 49 (D49) in El Paso County, Colorado, filed its lawsuit against the state after passing a localized rule that banned trans athletes from girls sports at its schools earlier in May. That lawsuit cites "increasing tension between Title IX obligations and the state system that requires discrimination against female student-athletes," according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital. "Knowing that the approved policy would generate opposition and potentially trigger legal challenges, D49 filed a pre-enforcement action in the Colorado District of the federal court system seeking declaratory and injunctive relief," the school district said. The lawsuit does not come in response to a specific incident of a trans athlete competing in the district. Instead, it's a response to the state's sweeping policies conflicting with the school's obligation to abide by federal law, specifically Title IX. "Political culture is far out of balance on gender issues. Our lawsuit seeks a rational correction to excessive accommodations," D49 Superinterdent Peter Hilts told Fox News Digital. "Our state athletic association simultaneously advocates equity and discrimination. We asked them to resolve that discrepancy, and they declined, so we were compelled to pursue a legal ruling." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Students in the state can compete in either gender category if they inform their school in writing that their gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. CHSAA requires schools to do a confidential evaluation, and all forms of documentation are voluntary. There are also no medical or legal requirements stated. Weiser's office responded to that lawsuit in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "The attorney general is committed to defending Colorado's anti-discrimination laws. The attorney general's office has no further comment on this ongoing litigation," the statement said. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Print Close URL
Fox News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Colorado Christian summer camp sues state for requiring access to gender identity-friendly facilities
A Christian camp that has been operating since 1948 in Colorado is suing the state after the camp was told that it had to accommodate gender expression in bathrooms and a variety of other spaces. "They feel like they're honoring God in what they're doing, and I feel like they should do that, to operate in a way that's consistent with that," camp volunteer and mother Leah Rohwer told CBS News in an interview. The camp, known as Camp IdRaHaje, which is short for "I'd Rather Have Jesus," has refused to obey the state government's demands that it accommodate gender expression in camp facilities. It is a conflict that is personal for Rohwer, who told CBS that she has a family member who identifies as transgender. "I have a heart for the kids that feel like they don't fit in their body," Rohwer said. "I love those kids and I'm not saying anything bad about any of those kids or family members, whoever it might be, but I feel like we shouldn't stomp on someone's religious freedom to try and help those folks." "Camp IdRaHaJe has faithfully served and ministered to Colorado children of all backgrounds and faiths since 1948 and has successfully maintained its resident camp license since it first received one in 1995," camp Executive Director Mike DeBoer said in a statement. "The new policy of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, however, is asking IdRaHaJe to choose between upholding its Biblical beliefs about biological sex and risk losing its license or abandoning its beliefs and mission by forcing girls and boys to shower, dress, and share sleeping quarters with campers of the opposite sex. We are asking the court to allow us to operate consistent with our beliefs and protect our campers from a gender ideology agenda," he added. Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Andrea Dill, who is representing the camp, said in a statement, "The government has no place telling religious summer camps that it's 'lights out' for upholding their religious beliefs about human sexuality." "Camp IdRaHaJe exists to present the truth of the Gospel to children who are building character and lifelong memories. But the Colorado government is putting its dangerous agenda—that is losing popularity across the globe—ahead of its kids. We are urging the court to allow IdRaHaJe to operate as it has for over 75 years: as a Christian summer camp that accepts all campers without fear of being punished for its beliefs," she added. Lisa Roy, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, provided a statement to CBS, saying, "The Department will continue working in partnership with faith-based providers and camps within the confines of the law to ensure maximum participation. As I'm sure you understand, we cannot comment on active litigation." The Colorado Department of Early Childhood did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
CBC
06-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Tories call for changes to Manitoba bill adding gender expression to human rights code
Manitoba's new Opposition leader says his party wants changes and clarity on a bill by the NDP government that would add gender expression to the province's human rights code. The bill, now making its way through the legislature, would include protections for people to be called by their preferred pronouns. Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan said Tuesday he has heard concerns by some members of the public who fear people could face a complaint for addressing someone by the wrong gender. "What is the standard or threshold to file a complaint? What does that look like? The minister has been very vague on that," said Khan, who was elected Tory leader April 26. "We all agree — let's be clear — human rights are of the utmost importance for everyone regardless of anything else.… The concern is the threshold." Karen Sharma, executive director of Manitoba's human rights commission, told public hearings — where dozens spoke in favour and against the bill — the code applies to employment, housing and other services, and not to interactions between private individuals or inside religious institutions. Successful complaints seen in other provinces have involved malicious, repetitive misgendering, she added. Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said the Tories should not oppose a bill that would bring Manitoba in line with other provinces that also protect gender expression. "Eight other provinces and two territories in this country already have this protection in place," Wiebe told reporters. "For many, it's been over a decade." 2019 complaint in Alberta The issue of gender expression recently went before the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal. Marni Panas, a transgender woman, filed a complaint in 2019 after she was misgendered by 911 dispatchers in Edmonton when she called to ask for a welfare check on a friend. Earlier this year, the tribunal found there was discrimination but dismissed the complaint, saying dispatchers didn't mean to misgender Panas. Panas has applied for a judicial review of the ruling. The Manitoba bill is expected to be passed into law this spring, given the NDP majority in the legislature. The Tories hadn't expressed an interest in amending the bill prior to Khan becoming leader in late April. Khan was asked whether he would allow his Tory caucus members a free vote on the bill and appeared to indicate that he would. "I have been very, very clear throughout my [leadership] campaign, and I will now say that when it comes to matters of conscience that I will open it up for a free vote." Opposition wants Manitoba government to clarify bill protecting gender expression 57 minutes ago Duration 1:39 Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan is asking the NDP government to amend its bill adding gender expression to Manitoba's human rights code. He wants the bill to clarify what would prompt a complaint to the human rights commission.
CBC
06-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Opposition wants Manitoba government to clarify bill protecting gender expression
Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan is asking the NDP government to amend its bill adding gender expression to Manitoba's human rights code. He wants the bill to clarify what would prompt a complaint to the human rights commission.
